The SPL table has an unfamiliar look to it with six games played by the majority of teams. We know The Rangers aren’t going to win the title, but with Motherwell sitting in to spot and Celtic (with a game in hand admittedly) sitting in an unusual fifth place, the race for the glittering prize may not be such a foregone conclusion as some have predicted. Perhaps the biggest surprise after last season’s flirtation with relegation and embarrassment in the Scottish Cup Final in May is that Hibs are sitting in second place after only losing one game. A five game unbeaten run is not something that Hibs fans have enjoyed for some time. The new signings must see something in the club despite reading from the usual script when they meet the media for the first time. The facilities are always spoken of as being one of the best in the country but they don’t win games. The deviation from the script from players who have been on trial before signing show a degree of confidence in what the side can do. Manager Pat Fenlon suffered a long season last time out with a lack of natural rapport with the media not helping his cause.
Pat Fenlon (c) Ger Harley | SportPix He has been called difficult because he prefers to be working with his players than meeting the press ahead of key games. They delighted in capturing his gesture to the Hearts fans as their favourites ran away with trophy that has eluded any Hibs team since 1902. However, and whisper it in case it puts a jinks on the Easter Road side, Fenlon may be able to enjoy the last laugh. While he will never say it, his players and Hibs fans are seeing some positive signs that the manager has built a squad that could be worth watching this season. Hibs have always been known as a side that like to play well and entertain. While the squad does not have any high value star players, they are starting to play like a team that actually have met before the game. Leigh Griffiths appears to have started listening to Fenlon about concentrating on playing rather than losing his temper with the Hibs fans. Griffiths won the August Player of the Month prize for his efforts and three goals and was also called into the Scotland Under 21 squad. Perhaps there is more to Fenlon’s quiet demeanour than meets the eye in how he operates when working with players. There is a saying of beware the quiet man. Perhaps the quite man of Easter Road will have something to shout about when the season ends next May. Only time will tell.Source: FOOTYMAD
